Besides typical red roses, little white dok rak or crown flowers equally symbolise love here in Thailand since rak translates as that four letter word.
Along with mali (jasmine) and dok pood (gardenia), the resilient dok rak grace malai or floral garlands that inspire scented jewellery by Thai brand Orn, whose other products include fine fragrances and home perfumes.
“Orn means beautiful lady,” explained product development manager Pattarajit Roeksutthiwiset. “Historically, Thai women like to enhance themselves with refined scents, such as by rum pha (perfuming fabrics) with fresh flowers or nam prung (Thai traditional fragrance). Furthermore, garments are kept in wooden chests lined with flowers so that when worn they leave an enchanting sillage.”
Based in Switzerland, Orn was founded by Orawan Pisitkasem and Fah Ruengskul, who wanted to revive the disappearing tradition of Thai perfume. The former school friends combined their experience in advertising and global marketing in launching the brand, firstly by selling the perfumed products overseas, and now with counters at The Emporium and Paragon department store.
The Dok Rak jewellery collection takes on a minimalist design, with the flower parts made of paper treated with a special technique to encapsulate the fragrance that can linger for up to three to four weeks. Thereafter, the aromatic treatment can be redone by placing the jewellery in a box lined with fabric or cotton wool previously spritzed with the same or new fragrance.
Another method is to spritz the fragrance on a cotton bud, then dab it onto the perfume-absorbing paper flowers. The rest of the jewellery is made of silver, brass and pink gold plating.
“The jewellery designs pay tribute to exquisite ornaments traditionally worn by Thai ladies. The first design was actually inspired by elegant kanjiak [traditional ear cuffs] which were originally made with flowers,” said Pattarajit. “We then released the whole Dok Rak collection of earrings, bangles and necklaces, which will be followed by the Dok Pood designs that also allow the wearing of perfume without spritzing on pulse points.”
Orn’s jewellery, however, doesn’t actually smell like the eponymous flowers as they are firstly scented with the brand’s debuting perfume, Adorn, but when the smell wears off, any fragrance can be used for the next aromatic treatment.
The Thai brand actually collaborated with international noses such as Vincent Schaller, who created Adorn as one of the five signature perfumes. Three other perfumers were involved in designing the other four, Maya, Wan, Bride and Groom.
“Besides the unique scents created by world-renowned perfumers, Orn’s products appeal with the Thai-inspired packaging such as the bottles that evoke traditional garlands,” Pattarajit added. “Taking perfumery to the next level, we incorporate our fragrances into daily ornamental objects such as the elegant Dok Rak jewellery that leaves a memorable trail.”
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.